Page 34 of Blind Trust
“Back away, out of this room,” the man said, his lips curling into a sneer. “I am walking out of here with her, but you have to move out of the way, first.”
Brian backed up, and then stepped out of the room, still standing in the doorway, facing the man and Cecelia.
Arturo’s head now appeared in a window along the back wall of the room. How he’d gotten up there, Brian didn’t know. But he was there, and so was the gun he aimed at the fifth gunman, waiting for a good shot. An expert marksman, he would take the shot if he had an opening.
Brian needed to keep the gunman in the room. If he allowed the man to leave, the shot would be lost.
“No, I don’t think so,” Brian said. “I can’t let you leave with her.”
“You have no other choice,amigo,” the fifth man snarled. He moved forward, pushing Cecelia in front of him.
She stumbled on her untied shoelace, and her arms went out in front of her as if she would fall. Off balance, her head went down.
Arturo took the shot.
The fifth man dropped, a bullet to the back of his head, and he fell to the ground.
Cecelia was covered in a spray of blood, bone, and brains.
Brian went to her, one arm still holding his gun away from her as he wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her close.
“Brian, you came for me!” Cecelia cried out.
“I told you I would,” he said, quietly, hoping to calm her. “You’re safe now. We’re getting you out of here.”
“I was so scared,” she said. “I was afraid the GPS wouldn’t work from so far away, and that you’d never find me again.”
“Not a chance,” he said. “I would’ve found a way to locate you, no matter where you were, and I will always come for you.” He slung the gun over his shoulder.
She was crying and hanging onto him now.
He bent and lifted her up into his arms to carry her outside to Arturo’s car. “I’ve got you now, babe,” he said. “You’re safe, and we’re going home. Back to the United States of America, and I’m not leaving your side until you’re safe back at the ranch. Sound okay to you?”
“More than okay. I want to go home,” she said. “With you. Take me home, Brian.”
“Good, I was hoping you’d say that. I was afraid I would lose you,” he said, finally admitting it out loud, now that they were outside. “I was afraid I would never get to kiss you again.” He set her down on the ground so she could stand again.
“I was afraid you’d never find me,” she said. “I thought, if I died down here, at least you had kissed me one night, on the beach, beneath the stars. I would always know that kiss, what it felt like kissing you. I would always remember our first and only kiss.”
“Not the only one,” he said as he took out a handkerchief and wiped her face, clearing away the blood and sweat. “We can fix that right now.” Placing both of his palms on her cheeks, he brought her face close to him then pressed his lips against hers in a fierce kiss.
She responded by kissing him back with just as much fervor.
Their kiss deepened as their tongues touched, teased, and danced. They kissed as if they couldn’t get enough of each other. Passion, desire, longing, relief and happiness were all in the mix of this kiss, and it was another they would remember for a lifetime.
* * *
Across the border,back in the U.S., Brian and Cecelia were sharing a room at the fanciest hotel in San Diego.
He’d ordered champagne and strawberries, and they’d made plans to not leave the room until the next day at eleven, when it was time to check out.
Life was short, and they’d both agreed that they wanted to make the most of it, here, tonight. Making love for the first time, together as a couple.
He wasn’t letting Cecelia out of his sight for a long while. Nearly losing her had scared him and made him realize how much he cared for her.
They might even be picking out a ring soon, if things went as he hoped they would go.
The events in Mexico had changed them both.
Tonight, would be the beginning of a new future for them, and he couldn’t wait.
THE END
